SADIQ THE MODEL PRO
He wants titles
UMAR SADIQ swapped calculators and spreadsheets for the blood, sweat and tears of the boxing business but does not see it as a gamble.
The Nigerian-born fighter could have taken the easy life and continued in a highly-paid accountancy job.
He also works as a model, rubbing shoulders with the likes of David Beckham and playing Anthony Joshua’s double in high-profile TV ads.
But his dream is to rule the super-middleweight division as he prepares for his second pro bout on February 24 at east London’s York Hall.
“Playing it safe is something that most people would do but then nobody ever achieved anything great by playing it safe,” said Sadiq, who moved to England when he was 12.
“Knowing that I’m capable of one day being the best super-middleweight, and maybe light-heavyweight, in the world was enough for me.
“The accountancy will always be there, boxing won’t.”
Sadiq came from a middle-class background in Nigeria and went to boarding school until his father died and he accompanied his mother to England.
It was here he accidentally fell in love with boxing after attending fitness-based classes .
Drunk
“I went to three or four different classes and I was the best at them all,” he said.
“I had a time when I was off for six months, went out and got drunk with some friends, came into a class on three hours sleep and was asked to spar.
“Reluctantly I did and I found out two weeks later my opponent had won the novice championships.”
Deciding to see how far he could go, the Essex-based puncher won the coveted Haringey Box Cup twice, competed in the ABAs and boxed for Nigeria in Olympic qualifiers.
He has sparred with world champions James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders, and knows the level he needs to reach, though, at 30, time is not on his side.
“I would happily go into an English title fight, a British title fight or any title fight in the next 12 months,” he said.
And while he has packed in the accountancy, he still models, having appeared alongside Beckham in a Haig Club whisky advert.
He added: “I get to work with great people... people that I admire.”